TYSONS CORNER, Va. – A group of people protesting the the impending mandatory budget cuts that are part of the coming “fiscal cliff” got into the holiday spirit, by caroling their discontent.

About 40 protesters from Progress Virginia, a liberal advocacy group, showed up at Tysons Corner Mall wearing red Santa hats and singing their own lyrics to the tune of classic Christmas carols.

“Dashing through the snow,” from “Jingle Bells” became “Dashing to the cliff,” and their version of “Deck the Halls” included lyrics like “the one percent make more than ever” and “the time to act is now or never.”

Mall security asked the group to leave after about five minutes and then they walked across the street to Sen. Mark Warner’s Vienna office to send their message.

“Middle class families don’t have an expensive lobbyist at their disposal so we have to be creative in making sure those voices are heard,” says Anna Scholl, the group’s executive director.

Also in the group Julia Newton who came all the way from Norfolk, Virginia. She has an autistic son.

“I personally talked to Senator Warner last week and the deal that he proposed didn’t seem fair to working people like me,” says Newton.

The group did get to meet with a member of the Senator’s staff, and the Senator’s office issued a written statement.

“We agree any solution must be balanced, and Senator Warner is hopeful Congress will put a bow on a responsible deal and get it under the tree before Christmas.”